Gym politics when it comes to space

[Misanthropic]

I walked into a spin class this morning and went to a bike to set it up. The lady behind me leaned forward and said “Excuse me, please can you move to another bike so that I can see the instructor”. The bike seat was wobbly anyway so I was going to move bikes, but it’s the entitlement of some class participants these days! I said to her “The bike’s wobbly so I’m moving anyway”. Why couldn’t she have moved herself to the front if she wanted to see the instructor so badly? And, if the class was full she’d have no choice but to put up and shut up. What made this minor annoyance more annoying was that the instructor heard her say this to me and didn’t think to challenge her. Its participants like these, the cliques, the space colonizers just make gym classes so unnecessarily political, and take the joy out of them

She needs to sit in the front row and you need to take a seat on your chosen bike and tell her that - the cliques and entitlement continue because no one calls these people out - I am an instructor and would have said something to her however, members/participants also need to and not just leave it up to the instructor.

What made this minor annoyance more annoying was that the instructor heard her say this to me and didn’t think to challenge her

This is my biggest gripe these days. Its always left to the participants to police situations. A quick interjection by the instructor was all that was needed in this situation.

Tbh if the room was half empty I'd probs not plonk myself right in front of someone. Same at the cinema. In a busy class it'd be different ofc.

Urgh. I hate bike / space hoggers. I once unknowingly sat on someone’s bike and the drama it caused! All of the regulars helping her find a different bike (about 7 others to choose from) then She started asking people for a spanner so she could adjust the wall fan height not to blow on her. Crazy. I didn’t realise what I’d done at the time though and just thought she was mad! The irony now is that I did have a fav bike, but some bloke has decided it’s his and gets there mega early to get it, he doesn’t actually know it’s mine though 🤣

This. Its like people that sit in the seat next to you when the bus is practically empty.

And she might not have wanted to be at the front with her arse on show to everyone behind her.

You were the rude one here op imo.

I'd really like to do a bike class but this really puts me off that I don't know what I'm going in to and wouldn't want to inadvertently steal someone's bike

Maybe I should just get there late so I take whatever bike is left!

Used to do spin a few years ago but spin classes at Pure Gym, where they inexplicably have no proper door on the studio and are next to the gym floor, sound like the howling from an outer circle of hell.

You should defo go @hollyblueivy i’d say it doesn’t happen that often but it totally does! You’ll soon suss out who are the possessive ones 🤣 at ours generally the front, back and sides are the most popular spaces and the middle bit is quite free. Spin classes are great!